SAUK RAPIDS — The Sauk Rapids-Rice school board decided Wednesday night to offer its superintendent position to Aaron Sinclair .

Sinclair is the assistant superintendent for Brainerd public schools. He and three other candidates were interviewed by teams of people involved with the district's schools and communities.

One of Sinclair's interview sessions was with a team of parents, students and community members. When asked about his leadership style and how he has practiced communicating with community members, Sinclair explained the moment he recognized the industrial-age teaching model was not functioning anymore. He went and asked employers what they're looking for now.

These are changes he said he has seen to be necessary and made. As an outsider coming in to the Sauk Rapids-Rice district, he said he would bring that to the position as well.

Sinclair said that he was surprised when he got the call so soon after interviews had finished.

"It was actually, when I reflect on it, kind of humorous," he said. "In the back of my mind I think I had started to move toward that they actually offered it to someone else."

But then he realized it was good news.

"I think I was a little taken aback and shocked, but once it sunk in I was thrilled," he said.

The school board chose to enter into contract negotiations with Sinclair because it saw him as a "collaborative leader and knowledgeable of how technology can impact curriculum and instruction, as well as communication," according to a district news release.

"Aaron is really focused on relationships and communications, he’s really strong on that," said school board Chairman Mark Hauck. "That’s something we expect as well. He has demonstrated in the past that he’s been that person who can listen and engage in constructive conversation and bring people to consensus."

"My path into the superintendency is a little bit different," Sinclair said. "I spent the last five or six years working in human resources and it’s about connecting with people."

Hauck said that, at the end of the day, there was unanimous consent from all teams that Sinclair should be offered the job. He also said this was partly due to Sinclair's history as managing with a focus on students — what Hauck characterized as a "bottom-up" leadership style, instead of working from "the top down."

Sinclair said his main focus coming into the position will be getting familiar with the culture of the district and community by connecting with families and local businesses.

If they come to a contract agreement, Sinclair will take over as superintendent July 1.

Other finalists were William Adams, Mark Messman, Paul Neubauer and Tim Onsager. All but Onsager interviewed Wednesday. Onsager, of Stoughton Area School District in Wisconsin, withdrew, stating he was pursuing other opportunities in Wisconsin.